1. The dare

Briar's POV

Rosé, my friend, shouted from a distance, "Briar,

you can do it!"

I gulped hard as my throat was dry, took a few steps towards the corridor I turned back and saw five bastards, signalling me to go forward.

I was scared and trust me that’s an understatement

Of course, who wouldn't be? I was given a dare to steal the student record book from the principal's office. I still don't understand why do they want it? But recalling back our game last night at the dorm, I cursed under my breath for choosing dare.

“Fuck you.” I mouthed and saw them giggling at me from a distance.

It was cold, yet a stream of sweat ran down my spine and every step felt like dragging a brick by each of my shoes. I was clearly reluctant to move forward, but there’s a fine line between apprehension and achievement. And I was very arrogantly trying to challenge my fear.

Tightly holding the door handle of the office, I looked through the key hole, enquiring if someone was in there. Luckily there was nobody. I slowly opened the door and tiptoeing, moved forward. My eyes moved all around the room.

As sophisticated as a room can be, the principal’s office enhanced the huge chandelier just with its dark walnut wood covering the entire place. The outer office wall had a huge painting of three wild horses dominating the centre.

The lush carpet draped beside the rich couch reminded me of how this simple piece of furniture was my sole reason to ever stand in the student council elections. I was still in middle school when I realised the senior student council always had access to this beautiful office, which made me want to also become a part of the same. As childish as it may seem, I was still able to achieve my goal.

Well, the chances of me being caught was less since, the school captains are allowed the access to the outer office, where I was most likely to find the book. I had no time to kill so, I started searching. But sadly, I saw nothing but numerous magazines and newspapers.

The habitat of the place is always strangely dense and extremely quiet. I could hear my breath and each step I took, with great accuracy even though my movements were faint and voiceless. I eagerly wanted to move out of the office and kept praying to find the printed work.

I looked all through the outer office but couldn’t find it. Then my eyes shifted to the inner office’s wooden door which spelt ‘Wilson’ on a silver plate shining as the light of the chandelier hit it. Resisting to push off my values of a good school captain to the edges, I suddenly was reminded of the absence of our principal. She has been out of the school for about a month now, so the chances of someone showing up were equivalent to zero.

After debating for another second, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Goosebumps rose all over my body, considering how chilly the room was. My eyes roamed around and landed on the precious material I was looking for. The student record book, kept in the shelf behind the principal's chair like a trophy decorated in a podium.

Mind was filled with ecstasy, the kind of excitement I felt on my birthday last year. Just when I was about to take it, I heard someone coming out of the washroom. 'FUCK!' A gasp almost escaped my mouth but I smashed my hand against my lips hurriedly sliding behind the principal's table.

 For the first time in my life, I was scared to breath. Somehow, I sensed the person was on the other side of the room, so, I decided to take a sneak peek. Landing my eyes on a man in a black shirt. Running my brain motors, I recalled all the staff members of the school, but this person was unknown to all my possible guesses. I had questions.

Who was this man?

Just after a few moments I saw him removing his shirt and my eyes were blessed with the best part of his back. Man was built like a sculpture, with his skin shining like an invisible armour. The urge to get a closer look at him was intense, I had never seen a man with such an outstanding physique. Either he was a model or a Greek God, because I was ready to assume I’m hallucinating and this is probably a dream.

My eyes became greedier and I crawled out, towards the side of the huge table, in an attempt to look at his face. I quietly peeped but he was facing the little mirror hanging on the wall beside the window, only his back was visible to me. I was currently friends with the floor so, I was blocked out from his vision.

But, Lord, even his back was a sight and that butt. I was fangirling.

“God is great. God is amazing.” I mouthed to myself.

Ever seen a man walking happily on the side of the road, but a car comes a splash a chunk of muddy water on the happy man, making him question his existence and regret ever leaving his house at seven in the morning for work, wearing his favourite white shirt? Yes, I ramble.

Same happened with me.

Enjoying an unknown man’s back view, without his permission was fitted to be considered a punishable offense by God. I got imbalanced from the uncomfortable position I was sitting in and fell down with a thud on the carpet. "AH!" I involuntarily winced in pain. Assuming he turned around and saw me flat landed on the ground, a mixture of anxiety and embarrassment was all I felt at that time.

My heartbeat was quick already, when sweaty palms were invited with double anxiety. Without looking up to his face, I managed to get up and stood straight with my head down aiming to be judged for my indiscrete behaviour.

"I-I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, sir. I didn't know y-you were here." I stuttered, trying to let out some sensible words but failing miserably.

"Even if I was not, I don't think any student is allowed to enter the principal's office without prior permission." He said, sending chills down my spine. Though his voice was the definition of classy. A perfect combination of deep and heavy tone.

He clearly didn’t sound pleased yet he was calm. Every word which left his mouth was making me even more tensed.

"I know s-sir." I said, too scared. I was blank.

And his awareness of me being wrong just made the environment worse for me.

"I think you don't know. That's why you came in here." He said in a calm voice.

"I'm sorry sir. This won’t happen again." I said with all the courage I could’ve gathered in a decade and bowed down, hurriedly moving towards the exit. Because I knew if a few more seconds passed, I would start wishing for the ground to open up and swallow me inside.

"Wait." I heard his voice, demanding enough to pause my feet involuntarily.

I turned around and saw his face. My eyes were wide in shock. It was practically not a face but rather a carved sculpture, straight out a phenomenal painting. He was gorgeous, almost as pleasant as a dream. He was a man too beautiful to exist. With his hair was perfectly pushed back exposing his forehead I realised his eyebrows were even thicker than mine.

The fresh serenity of his face and the natural pink blush spread across his cheeks just made his skin glow, dominating the dark aura of the place. His features sharp and defined, yet a soft radiance echoed through his surroundings. And his lips were the best, with their perfect natural pink tint.

His greyish eyes staring into mine seemed like a deep snowy forest with secrets begging to be discovered. He was unbelievably stunning. It felt as if someone has carved every detail of his face.

He simply didn't seem real, but was.

"Shouldn't I punish you twice.” He said, with his gaze plastered on me, different to my bewildered look mixed with anxiety.

“You came in without asking me and now, are leaving without any permission, again." He said with a great emphasis on every word.

He then furrowed his eyebrows reading my name badge.

"Miss Briar Carrington." He said with a little smile unexpectedly appearing on his extremely beautiful face.

Was he teasing me?

He crossed his arms signalling me to come near him. I slowly moved forward taking unwanted steps, biting my tongue. Completing the hardest five feet journey in his direction, I stood in front of him. The close proximity gave me the idea of this man's height. His tall body was towering over my short one. My head was still down. I wasn't able to gather the strength to raise my head after the ‘so-called’ offense

I had committed.

"Look up Briar." he said in a softer voice. And I looked up after my name left his amazing lips.

"You seem like a good child. That's why you're the head-leader of the Amber House. Right?" He said politely. I nodded with guilt filling my eyes like a pool.

"So, tell me very honestly. Why did you come here?" He asked turning his tone a little strict.

"I-I umm sir, actually I" I stuttered. I was done with words. I felt like a little child who doesn't know how to speak.

He sighed making me scared. He took a step forward making the tension to build higher in my brain and stomach.

"Look, I'm not letting you go unless you tell me what you were doing here. Don't worry, this conversation will stay between us." He said in soft voice, again, but he just made me more nervous.

Calculating every possible outcome of this situation, I decided to test this man first. Assuming, he definitely was not a part of the school authorities, I decided to flow with the benefit of doubt.

"Sir, you won't tell anyone right?" I asked with fear never leaving my voice. He chuckled a bit and hummed, nodding.

"Actually, me and my friends were playing truth or dare. And they gave me a dare to steal the student record book from the principal's office. I thought it would be easy because Mrs. Sofia Wilson is not present in the school." I said in a low voice, as if doing so would lower the intensity of the offense.

"So, you thought you can easily steal the book?" He asked, slightly furrowing his eyebrows.

"No sir! it was just a dare. I was not at all interested in that book, but my friends gave me the dare." I said truthfully, strangely feeling better somehow.

Looking at me he took a deep breath as if studying me. He then said, "Tell me the names of your friends."

"No!” I blurted out immediately.

Fuck. This isn’t going right.

“I mean, please sir, don't punish them. I swear I didn't see the book and promise you that me or my friends wouldn't be responsible for playing this kind of a stunt, ever again." I said with an unimaginable amount of courage. But I was almost a breath away for tearing up very badly. I could feel the water making my eyes moist.

He stared at me for a few seconds creating this panel of death silence, increasing my heart rate. I waited eagerly for his words, expecting to lead to the worst.

"Okay.” He finally let out, grabbing my attention as if he owns it.

“I'm trusting you, Briar. This should be the first and the last time. If I catch you again then not just you, but even your friends will face the consequences. Alright?" He said raising his eyebrows. I nodded and rushed out the office, like a hurricane.

I ran through the corridor with tears in my eyes. I was still confused whether they were tears of joy or sadness. Joy, for being able to escape from the problem and sadness, for making a very bad impression on such a handsome man. But I was happier because I don't think I'll ever meet that handsome man again.

I mean, I'm sure he's not a teacher here. Right?